Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book
Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book
Kate Meyer, curator
September 7, 2019–December 1, 2019
Gallery 408, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

The KU Common Book program represents a campus-wide initiative to engage first-year students in a shared reading and learning experience. The choice for the 2019–2020 academic year is Tales of Two Americas Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation—edited by John Freeman—is an anthology of poetry, prose, and essays. Tales of Two Americas features writers such as Kiese Laymon, Sarah Smarsh, Natalie Diaz, Roxane Gay, and Julia Alvarez who explore the realities and inequalities of America today, in particular, the United States from 2016 onward. The exhibition Visible and Divisible America reflects the writings in the book and their themes, including the costs and value of education, notions of socioeconomic and racial inequality, home and homelessness, safety and insecurity, change and gentrification, and work and labor. In the editor’s foreword, Freeman urges readers to “watch as these writers demolish the myth [of the American Dream] and replace it with the reality of what it feels like to try to keep a foothold in America today.” Similarly, visitors of this exhibition will find evidence of American realities that are visible, invisible, and perhaps, divisible.

Exhibition images

Works of art

July 4, 1976, Topeka, Kansas, Larry Schwarm (born 1944)
Larry Schwarm (born 1944)
Lost Persons, Pasadena, Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023)
Elliott Erwitt (1928–2023)
untitled, Jim Goldberg (born 1953)
Jim Goldberg (born 1953)
untitled, 1979
Chicago 224, Aaron Siskind (1903–1991)
Aaron Siskind (1903–1991)
Chicago 224, 1953
This I Believe, Norman Strike (born 1949)
Norman Strike (born 1949)
Temptation to Sell the Soul, James Dean Pruner (1951–1987 or 1988)
James Dean Pruner (1951–1987 or 1988)
Blue Plate Special, Alison Saar (born 1956); Vinalhaven Press (active 1985–1999)
Alison Saar (born 1956); Vinalhaven Press (active 1985–1999)
untitled (Ask about these Jobs), Gordon H. Coster (1906–1988)
Gordon H. Coster (1906–1988)
untitled, the payroll line, Gordon H. Coster (1906–1988)
Gordon H. Coster (1906–1988)
Chopper - LA, Graciela Iturbide (born 1942)
Graciela Iturbide (born 1942)
Chopper - LA, 1986
Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise, Jenny Holzer (born 1950)
Jenny Holzer (born 1950)
record albums, Jazz artists names, Guy Blais
Guy Blais
"I think there should be more of US in this school!", Elmer Simms Campbell (1906–1971)
Elmer Simms Campbell (1906–1971)
Twelve Drive-Ins I, Jeff Brouws (born 1955)
Jeff Brouws (born 1955)
record albums, Jazz artists names, Guy Blais
Guy Blais
Los Amigos Americanos (Our American friends) [miniature scene depicting two Americans at home]
La Miscelánea Fiscal (This Fiscal Miscellany) [miniature drugstore counter scene with two skeleton customers]
The Irrevocability of Nature, Mark Kostabi (born 1960)
Mark Kostabi (born 1960)
Markings No. 7-1, Koo Kyung Sook (born 1960)
Koo Kyung Sook (born 1960)
Eagle and Snake II, Luis Alfonso Jimenez (1940–2006); Lawrence Lithography Workshop (active 2001–present)
Luis Alfonso Jimenez (1940–2006); Lawrence Lithography Workshop (active 2001–present)
White Trash, Linda Lighton (born 1948)
Linda Lighton (born 1948)
White Trash, 2003
Sisters, Christa Dalien (born 1980)
Christa Dalien (born 1980)
Sisters, 2012
One Dollar from Honest Money, Ganzeer (born 1982); Booklyn, Inc. (founded 1999); Wasp Print (founded 2011)
Ganzeer (born 1982); Booklyn, Inc. (founded 1999); Wasp Print (founded 2011)
Five Dollars from Honest Money, Ganzeer (born 1982); Booklyn, Inc. (founded 1999); Wasp Print (founded 2011)
Ganzeer (born 1982); Booklyn, Inc. (founded 1999); Wasp Print (founded 2011)
two story house with a female figure on the first floor and a male figure on balcony, Yves Michaud (born 1950, active 1969–present)
Yves Michaud (born 1950, active 1969–present)
Apocalypto, Diego Romero (born 1964, active circa 1986–present); Landfall Press (active 2004–present)
Diego Romero (born 1964, active circa 1986–present); Landfall Press (active 2004–present)
Apocalypto, 2011
Gotta Catch 'Em All!, Michael Menchaca (born 1985); Overpass Projects
Michael Menchaca (born 1985); Overpass Projects
America First, Michael Menchaca (born 1985); Overpass Projects
Michael Menchaca (born 1985); Overpass Projects
Gloves, Noir, Tom Kiefer (born 1959)
Tom Kiefer (born 1959)
Gloves, Noir, 2013
America is Broke, John Langdon (born 1946)
John Langdon (born 1946)
Homelessness at Work, Bullet Space (1985–present); Dennis Thomas (born 1955); Day Gleeson (born 1948)
Bullet Space (1985–present); Dennis Thomas (born 1955); Day Gleeson (born 1948)
Homelessness at Work, 1990–1991
Democracy at Work, Bullet Space (1985–present); David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992)
Bullet Space (1985–present); David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992)
Democracy at Work, 1990–1991
Death of a Neighborhood, Bullet Space (1985–present); Will Sales (1928–2013)
Bullet Space (1985–present); Will Sales (1928–2013)

Events

September 15, 2019
Talk
Up Close: Common Bonds
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, Kemper Family Foundations Balcony, 408
September 29, 2019
Talk
Twelve Drive-Ins I
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, Kemper Family Foundations Balcony, 408